WHEN  the 
BLIND  SAW 


deFOREST 
BURRELL 


.USWS6 


tibvary  of  Che  trheoio^icd  gtminaxy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

The  Estate  of 
Harold  McAfee  Robinson,  D.D. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/whenblindsawOOburr 


Murmuring  over  and  over,    "  Nathan  ! 

Nathan !"    old    Elon    threw    his    arms 

about  him   and   kissed  him 


WHEN  THE 
SAW 

By 

David  de  Forest  Burrell 

Author  of  "Letters  from  the  Dominie," 
"How  They  Came  to   Bethlehem,"  etc. 


With  Illustrations  by 

R.    E.    TODHUNTER 


AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY 

PARK  AVE.  AND  40TH  STREET 
NEW  YORK 


Copy  righted,  191 6,  by 
AMERICAN    TRACT    SOCIETY 


To 

N.  M.  B., 

on  whom  now  shines  the  fulness  of 
"the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
Christ,"  this  little  story  is  dedicated. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Murmuring  over  and  over,  "Nathan ! 
Nathan!"  old  Elon  threw  his  arms 
about  him  and  kissed  him  Frontispiece 

FACING  PAGE 

He  saw ! — saw  a  strange  white  light, 
a  shimmering  glory,  in  the  heav- 
ens 1 6 

He  threw  himself  prone  by  its  brink 
and  plunged  his  face  into  its  cool 
waters  44 


WHEN  THE   BLIND   SAW 


WHEN  THE   BLIND   SAW 

By  David  de  Forest  Burrell 

THE  little  stone  house  stood 
on  a  shoulder  of  the  hill 
by  the  Jerusalem  road,  hard  by 
the  sheep-tower;  and  like  an  im- 
pudent one-eyed  beggar  leering 
at  some  prosperous  neighbor,  it 
looked  down  with  its  solitary 
window  on  the  neat  homes  and 
bright  gardens  of  Bethlehem, 
spread  along  the  ridge  below. 
With  its  one  bare  room,  its 
crumbling  walls,  its  leaky  mud- 
roof,  it  was  a  sorry  home;  but  it 
was  the  only  home  the  lad  had 
ever  known. 

3 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

He  was  lonely  and  timid; 
lonely,  for  he  was  blind,  and  his 
world  was  small  and  dark;  and 
timid  because  his  father  was 
wont  to  beat  him  for  no  other  of- 
fence than  that  he  had  been  born 
blind  and,  therefore,  useless.  He 
had  grown  used  to  the  sound  of 
that  harsh  voice  asking,  with  a 
shepherd's  wild  oaths,  "What  is  a 
blind  son  but  a  burden?  What 
can  he  do  but  turn  beggar?" 

Reiteration  being  mighty  in  ar-J 
gument,  and  the  lad  growing  as 
lads  will,  turn  beggar  he  did  per- 
force. This  was  in  his  tenth  year. 
Sitting  by  the  dusty  road  in  the 
hot  summer  sun,  a  fierce-eyed 
shepherd  dog  by  his  side,  he 
would  stretch  forth  his  hand  with 
a  shrill  cry  as  the  laden  caravans 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

went  by.  If  perchance  a  copper 
rewarded  his  importunity,  he 
would  bring  it  to  his  mother, 
holding  it  forth  timidly,  as  if  it 
were  the  only  apology  he  could 
make  for  his  existence.  And, 
truth  to  tell,  since  money  also 
argues  strongly,  there  began  to  be 
days  when  the  boorish  shepherd 
and  his  wife  were  inclined  to  feel 
that  as  a  blind  beggar  the  boy 
would  do  more  to  better  the  fam- 
ily fortunes  than  he  could  have 
done  following  the  flock.]  So  the 
Summer  passed  and  the  Autumn, 
and  the  little  fellow  was  well  on 
the  way  through  his  sordid  ap- 
prenticeship. 

But  one  day  something  hap- 
pened. Seated  by  the  roadside, 
shivering  under  a  pale  winter  sun, 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

he  grew  weary  of  waiting  for  lag- 
gard travelers.  He  got  to  his  feet 
and  stretched  his  cramped  little 
legs.  With  one  hand  gripping 
the  dog's  shaggy  shoulder,  the 
other  feeling  before  him  with  his 
little  staff,  he  made  his  way  to  the 
gate  of  the  sheepfold  by  the 
tower.  It  was  here  that  the  sac- 
rificial flocks  were  kept;  his  fath- 
er's few  sheep  were  folded  over 
the  hill. 

The  gate  of  the  sacred  enclos- 
ure was  open,  and  he  entered. 
The  silence  told  him,  what  he 
hoped,  that  the  fold  was  empty. 
Hurrying  across  the  field  to  the 
low  tower  in  the  corner,  he 
climbed  the  few  rough  steps  lead- 
ing to  the  top.  He  felt  for  the 
wall,  found  it,  carefully  swung  his 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

feet  over,  and  sat  with  unseeing 
eyes  facing  the  sloping  hills  and 
the  town  and  the  wilderness  be- 
yond. The  winter  wind  beat 
against  his  brown  cheeks;  his 
blood  tingled  with  the  smart  of  it. 
He  felt  the  bigness  of  the  world 
about  him,  though  he  saw  it  not. 

Suddenly  came  a  voice  from 
close  beside  him :  "  'Tis  a  wonder- 
ful world,  little  lad." 

Fearful  for  the  moment,  he 
turned  a  startled  face  towards  his 
unseen  neighbor.  Then  his  fears 
fled.  He  knew  the  voice,  had 
heard  it  many  a  time  calling  the 
dogs  and  sheep ;  it  was  the  kindly 
voice  of  Elon,  one  of  the  herds- 
men who  kept  the  sacrificial 
flocks. 

"It    feels    like    a    wonderful 

7 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

world,"  he  answered  simply.  "I 
cannot  see  it." 

"I  know  thee,"  said  the  shep- 
herd; "thou  art  Nathan,  Shama's 
little  blind  son.  Often  have  I 
passed  thee  when  thou  sat'st  by 
the  roadside  begging." 

The  lad  flushed  under  his  dark 
skin,  but  he  only  said,  "I  am  he." 

"Weshallmakebetterthanabeg- 
gar  of  thee  some  day,"  said  Elon. 

"I  know  not  how,"  returned  the 
lad  in  his  slow,  discouraged  voice. 
"What  can  the  blind  do  but  beg? 
What  can  I  do?  Mine  own  father 
mocks  me  when  I  say  I  have  the 
making  of  a  shepherd  in  me." 

The  man  was  silent  for  a  mo- 
ment, watching  him  with  pitying 
eyes.  Then  he  spoke  cheerily: 
"Some  sort  of  true  man  thou  wilt 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

be,  I  know.    Jehovah  liveth  still." 
"Can  He  open  mine  eyes?" 
"That  He  can,"  came  the  bold 
answer.    "I  have  never  seen  such 
a  thing,  but  things  came  to  pass  in 
the  day  of  the  prophets;  and  an- 
other day  cometh." 
"What  day?" 

"Messiah's  day,"  answered  the 
shepherd,  with  a  ring  in  his  voice 
that  stirred  the  lad's  interest. 
"Dost  not  remember?  Along  this 
very  road  from  the  south  came 
Micah,  and  looked  down  from 
these  hills  upon  our  town  yonder, 
and  spake  of  Messiah  that  He 
should  be  born  there:  'Thou, 
Bethlehem  Ephrathah,  which  art 
little  to  be  among  the  thousands 
of  Judah,  out  of  thee  shall  One 
come  forth  unto  me  that  is  to  be 

9 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

ruler  in  Israel,  whose  goings  forth 
are  fromof  old,from  everlasting.' " 

With  kindling  eyes  the  man 
looked  off  towards  the  white- 
walled  town  below.  "Men  say,"  he 
continued,  "that  the  time  of  His 
coming  draweth  nigh.  The  Rabbi 
in  our  synagogue  saith  so.  And 
when  He  comethwondrous  things 
will  happen.  It  may  be,  lad — 
dost  recall  Isaiah's  words?  'The 
eyesoftheblindshallbeopenedP  " 

The  boy's  face  was  lifted  up, 
his  sightless  eyes  shining  with  a 
new-born  hope.  "Dost  thou  think 
so  truly,  Elon?  Doth  the  Rabbi 
say  it?  My  father's  house,  thou 
knowest,  is  outcast:  the  Rabbi  will 
not  speak  to  me  when  he  goes  by, 
for  it  is  years  since  my  father  went 
up  to  one  of  the  feasts.      Dost 

10 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

truly  think  so?  Oh,  if  He  would 
but  come — and  touch  mine  eyes! 
It  is  so  dark!" 

But  Elon  thrust  in  a  warning: 
"Thou  must  not  hope  too  much. 
It  may  be  that  God  would  teach 
and  use  thee  through  thy  blind- 
ness.  We  who  see  do  miss  things 
which  thou  mayest  be  given  grace 
to  see.  Thy  soul  may  have  good 
eyes,  if  thy  body  may  not.  Yet — 
He  will  come  some  day.  He  may 
come  soon:  no  man  knoweth." 

"I  understand,"  cried  the  boy, 
nodding  his  head  bravely,  though 
he  held  it  not  so  high.  "I  under- 
stand. I  will  try  to  see  with  my 
soul's  eyes;  and  I  will  pray,  too, 
for  sight  out  of  these  blind  eyes 
and  for  the  coming  of  the  Mes- 
siah. If  He  should  come,  and 
ii 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

touch  me,  and  I  should  see — Tell 
me,  Elon,  what  shall  I  see  when 
He  cometh?  Look  out  over  the 
hills  yonder  and  tell  what  thine 
eyes  show  thee !" 

So  the  shepherd  told  him  of  the 
world  that  lay  at  his  feet — of  the 
hills  running  down  to  the  town 
nestled  on  the  lower  ridge;  of  or- 
chards, palest  green  of  olives, 
faintest  pink  of  almonds;  of 
brown  gardens  and  terraced  vine- 
yards circling  the  town;  of  the 
valley  sinking  deep  and  deeper 
down  to  the  Dead  Sea,  whose 
steely  blue  waters  shone  far  be- 
low through  a  rocky  cleft;  of 
mountains  rising,  snow-mantled, 
into  the  distant  blue;  of  scattered 
clouds  flying  overhead.  And  lit- 
tle Nathan,  listening,  nodded  his 

12 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

head  as  he  fixed  each  bit  of  the 
landscape  in  his  mind,  finding, 
somehow,  a  meaning  for  words 
that  had  no  meaning  in  his  dark 
and  colorless  world. 

So  began  a  friendship  between 
the  blind  boy  and  the  shepherd,  a 
friendship  to  be  strengthened 
whenever  Nathan  could  steal 
away  from  his  hated  occupation 
by  the  roadside  and  make  his  way 
over  to  the  fold  where  the  sacri- 
ficial flocks  lay  by  night.  It  was 
in  the  evening  that  he  could  go 
most  easily;  for  if  he  brought  in 
a  copper  coin  or  two  by  supper- 
time,  none  cared  where  he  wan- 
dered after  dark  when  there  were 
no  more  travelers  passing  by. 

Night  after  night  he  and  the 

dog  were  to  be  found  by  the  shep- 
13 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

herd's  fire.  Elon's  great  baggy 
sheepskin  cloak  was  big  enough 
for  two.  Snugly  wrapped  in  it, 
nestling  close  to  the  side  of  his  big 
friend,  Nathan  spent  many  a 
happy  hour.  Often  the  talk  was 
of  Messiah;  soberly  and  earnestly 
the  shepherds  debated  the  time  of 
His  coming;  warmly  they  specu- 
lated on  Bethlehem's  part  in  the 
glorious  event;  and  always,  after 
such  evenings,  the  lad  crept  home 
as  late  as  he  dared,  with  tingling 
ears  and  throbbing  heart,  wonder- 
ing, hoping,  praying. 

At  last  it  happened.    It  was  a 

cold  night.    The  wind  found  its 

way  through  the  cracks  in  the 

wall    of    the    sheepfold    when 

Nathan  groped  his  way  to  the  fire 
14 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

the  men  had  kindled  in  a  shel- 
tered corner.  His  father  was 
away,  as  usual,  with  his  own  small 
flock,  over  the  shoulder  of  the  hill 
toward  Bethlehem.  His  mother 
was  busy  with  the  care  of  the  lad's 
wee  brother,  a  babe  of  a  few 
months.  The  lad  and  the  dog, 
sure  of  their  evening,  crouched 
by  the  fire.  The  shepherds  after 
a  brief  "Shalom"  said  little.  A 
fox  barked  from  the  hilltop,  and 
the  dogs  set  up  an  answering 
howl,  quickly  quieted  by  the  threat 
of  Elon's  staff.  The  boy,  warm 
and  comfortable,  closed  his  eye- 
lids over  his  blind  eyes  and  slept. 
He  was  wakened  by  the  dog, 
cowering  at  his  feet  and  whining. 
He  sat  up.    A  sudden  feeling  of 

mingled   fear  and  joy  sent  his 
is 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

heart  into  his  throat.  With  blind 
eyes  he  stared  into  the  darkness, 
and  it  was  no  more  dark.  He 
saw! — saw  a  strange  white  light, 
a  shimmering  glory,  in  the  heav- 
ens; saw  in  the  heart  of  the  glory 
the  blinding  beauty  of  an  angelic 
form!  And  from  the  angel's  lips 
came  the  welcome  music  of  the 
words  the  lad  had  so  longed  for: 
"Be  not  afraid,  for  behold,  I 
bring  you  good  tidings  of  great 
joy  which  shall  be  to  all  the  peo- 
ple; for  there  is  born  to  you  this 
day  in  the  city  of  David  a  Sav- 
iour, who  is  Christ  the  Lord.  And 
this  is  the  sign  unto  you :  Ye  shall 
find  a  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling 
clothes  and  lying  in  a  manger." 

The     heavenly     light     grew 
brighter.    As  if  attendant  angels 

16 


He  saw  !  —  saw  a  strange  white  light, 
a    shimmering   glory,    in    the     heavens 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

but  awaited  the  annunciation, 
they  appeared,  in  the  midst  of  the 
splendor,  and  from  their  lips 
came  a  heavenly  strain: 

"Glory  to  God  in  the  highest, 
And  on  earth  peace  among  men 
in  whom  He  is  well  pleased/' 

They  were  gone.  The  last 
faint  echo  died  away.  The 
brightness  faded.  The  lad's  world 
was  dark  again.  And  now  he 
realized  that  Elon  was  holding 
his  shoulder  in  a  grip  that  hurt. 
He  heard,  close  by,  the  heavy, 
sharp  breathing  of  the  other  men; 
so  he  knew  that  all  had  seen. 

"Elon!"  he  gasped;  "the  an- 
gels!   I  saw  them— I  saw!" 

The  man  drew  a  long  breath. 
17 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

"I  too  saw  them,"  he  said  in  an 
awed  whisper,  "and  heard  them. 
Lad,  lad,  the  Saviour  cometh!" 

Suddenly  he  turned  to  Nathan 
in  amazement:  "Dost  mean  that 
thou  sawest  them  ?   Thou  ?" 

The  little  fellow  was  sobbing  in 
his  excitement.  "I  did!  I  did 
see!  But  now — O  Elon,  I  see 
nothing!    I  am  blind  still !" 

One  of  the  other  shepherds 
stirred.  "Canst  see  the  red  coals 
here  in  the  fire?"  he  asked. 

The  lad  stared  into  the  dark- 
ness with  unseeing  eyes,  and  cried 
out  pitifully,  "Nay,  all  is  dark!" 

"But  thou  didst  see  the  angels," 
said  Elon,  his  strong  comforting 
arm  about  the  little  fellow's 
shoulders.  "It  is  as  I  said:  he 
that  hath  blind  eyes  can  see  with 

18 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW  - 

the  eyes  of  his  soul.  But,  O  my 
brothers,  my  dear  lad,  why  wait 
we  here?  Messiah  is  born!  Let 
us  go  even  to  Bethlehem  and  see!', 

Nathan  caught  at  the  thought. 
"Quickly,  let  us  go!  It  may  be, 
since  I  saw  the  angels,  I  may  see 
the  Saviour!" 

They  were  afoot  at  once,  the 
shepherds  with  staves  in  hand, 
sheepskins  thrown  back  over  their 
shoulders.  Out  at  the  gate  and 
down  the  road  they  hastened 
towards  the  few  lights  gleaming 
late  in  the  town  below.  The 
blind  boy  stumbled  along,  hold- 
ing fast  to  the  strong  hand  of  his 
big  friend. '  In  the  darkness  they 
passed  the  low  wall  of  a  neigh- 
boring field.    Over  it  leaned  the 

dim  form  of  a  man. 
19 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

"Whither,  brothers?"  he 
called. 

At  the  sound  of  his  voice  Na- 
than shrank  close  to  Elon.  "It 
is  my  father!"  he  whispered.  The 
shepherd  threw  his  baggy  coat 
about  the  lad  and  drew  him  closer 
to  his  side  in  the  shadows. 

"Peace  be  to  thee,  Shama,"  he 
answered,  slackening  his  stride. 
"We  go  to  Bethlehem.  Didst 
thou  hear  what  the  angel  said?" 

"Angel,"  said  Shama  stupidly. 
He  laughed.  "Angel,  sayest  thou? 
Naught  have  I  heard  save  the  fox 
on  the  hill.  What  said  thy 
angel?"  he  asked  derisively. 

"That  in  Bethlehem  we  should 
find  the  new-born  Saviour,  the 
Christ,"  called  back  one  of  the 
other  men. 

20 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

Shama  laughed  again.  "Go 
your  ways  on  your  fool's  errand," 
he  cried  after  them;  but  he  got  no 
answer;  they  were  hurrying  on 
down  the  road.j 

In  the  stable  under  the  brow  of 
the  hill  by  the  inn  they  found  as 
the  angel  had  said.  A  golden 
radiance  shone  faintly  through 
the  cracks  of  the  heavy  door, 
brightening  to  a  light  that  for  a 
moment  blinded  the  shepherds  as 
they  flung  open  the  door  and  en- 
tered. A  moment  more  and  they 
saw  the  cattle  in  their  rough  stalls, 
the  oil-lamps  burning  dimly  on 
the  floor  in  a  far  corner,  and  there, 
a  little  group  of  people  bending 
over  a  bundle  of  white  that  lay 
upon  the  straw.  It  was  the 
Christ-Child.    His  mother  lay  be- 

21 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

side  Him,  her  fingers  caressing 
one  little  hand. 

Nathan  tugged  at  Elon's  sleeve. 
"The  light!  The  light!  Elon!" 
he  cried,  "I  see  it!" 

But  neither  Elon  nor  any  other 
heeded  him.  As  by  one  impulse 
the  shepherds  stepped  forward 
and  knelt  before  the  manger. 
Nathan,  open-eyed,  seeing  only 
the  heavenly  light,  clung  still  to 
Elon's  sleeve,  and  when  he  knelt, 
knelt  with  him.  The  mother,  ly- 
ing there,  watched  with  a  wonder- 
ful light  in  her  eyes  and  a  smile 
upon  her  lips  but  said  nothing. 

"What  sent  you  hither?"  said 
one  at  length  to  the  newcomers. 

"An  angel  of  Jehovah,"  an- 
swered Elon  simply,  and  straight- 
way told  his  tale. 

22 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

They  were  out  in  the  open 
country  again,  mounting  the  long 
slope  towards  their  pastures, 
when  Elon  noticed  the  lad's  si- 
lence. The  man's  mind  had  been 
in  a  tumult  of  exaltation.  The 
old  Psalms  of  the  fathers  rang  in 
his  ears;  he  and  his  fellow-shep- 
herds had  not  ceased  to  sing  them 
and  to  tell  over  and  over  again  the 
glories  of  the  Saviour.  Now,  sud- 
denly, he  noticed  that  little  Na- 
than at  his  elbow,  trudging  sturd- 
ily along  through  the  night,  was 
mute. 

"Why,  lad,  where  is  thy  voice?" 
he  asked  in  joyous  reproach. 

A  sob  answered  him.  Na- 
than's hand  stole  further  under 
his  arm  and  gripped  it  convul- 
sively. "O  Elon,"  said  he, 
23 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

brokenly,  "I  could  not  see  Him! 
I  saw  the  light,  and  I  knew  He 
was  there,  and  I  tried  and  tried, 
but  I  could  not  see  Him!  I  am 
glad  He  is  come — but  I  wanted  to 
see  Him;  and  I  hoped  that  He 
would  open  mine  eyes — and — and 
I  am  blind  still!" 

Elon  the  shepherd  must  needs 
walk  in  silence  for  full  half  a 
hundred  paces  before  he  could 
answer. 

"Dear  lad,"  he  said  cheering- 
ly,  "He  is  but  a  babe!  Wait  thou 
till  He  shall  grow  to  manhood! 
Some  day  He  may  yet  touch 
thine  eyes  and  open  them. 
Come,  forget  not  that  thy  soul 
hath  eyes!  Sing,  sing  thou  with 
us,  for  the  Hope  of  Israel  is 
come!    Only  be  thou  patient!" 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

So  up  the  long  road  under  the 
stars  the  blind  boy,  with  tears  on 
his  cheeks  and  tears  in  his  clear 
young  voice,  sang  with  them,  and 
at  length  slipped  in  at  the  door 
of  his  sleeping  home.  And  that 
night  he  prayed  God  to  give  him 
patience  to  wait  till  Messiah 
should  be  grown  to  manhood. 

A  month  and  more  passed. 
Nathan  had  fallen  again  easily 
enough  into  the  commonplaces 
of  his  little  life.  Day  by  day, 
when  winter's  storms  permitted, 
his  soft,  appealing  voice  assailed 
the  ears  of  the  passer-by.  Thus 
it  came  about  that,  crouched 
under  the  wall  away  from  the 
wind,  he  cried  for  alms  amid  the 

mingled  noises  of  beasts  and  har- 

25 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

ncss  and  shouting  drivers  while 
a  great  caravan  from  the  south 
went  by.  In  the  midst  of  the 
confusion  his  quick  ear  caught 
the  pad-pad  of  an  ass's  feet  and 
the  shuffle  of  a  man's  sandals  on 
the  dusty  road.  He  heard 
a  man's  voice,  and  he  knew  the 
speaker  for  a  Galilean  at  the  first 
word. 

"The  Child  is  David's  Son," 
the  voice  said,  "and  He  shall  live 
in  David's  town  where  He  was 
born.  When  He  hath  been  re- 
deemed from  the  Lord,  then  re- 
turn we  hither." 

And  suddenly  the  heavenly 
glory  shone  again  before  Na- 
than's blind  eyes.  It  was  gone 
almost    as    quickly    as    it    had 

come;  all  was  dark;  and  he  was 
26 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

left  standing  with  outstretched 
hands  while  the  noise  of  the  car- 
avan receded  in  the  distance. 

It  was  Elon  again  who,  when 
the  lad  told  him  that  evening, 
cleared  up  the  mystery.  "It  is 
Joseph  of  Nazareth  and  the 
Babe's  mother,"  he  said,  "taking 
the  little  one  to  the  Temple  to 
present  Him  to  the  Lord  accord- 
ing to  the  Law.  Wait,  lad !  They 
will  return  in  a  day  or  two." 

And   so   they  did.     To   little 

Nathan,   sitting  with   ears   alert 

for  sounds  from  the  north,  there 

came  again  the  patter  of  the  ass's 

feet,  the  shuffle  of  sandals,  and 

even,    this    time,    the    cry    of    a 

child;  and  then — the  light  shone 

again  and  brought  him  to  his  feet 

with  a  happy  cry. 
27 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

The  travelers  halted.  The  boy 
heard  Joseph  saying  something 
— he  knew  not  quite  what — to 
him.  The  light  was  still  before 
his  eyes,  shining  white  and  clear. 
His  lips  moved,  but  he  could  not 
speak.  A  coin  touched  his  palm; 
then  he  found  his  voice. 

"Art  thou  not  Joseph  of  Naza- 
reth ?"  he  asked  breathlessly. 

"Thou  sayest,"  returned  the 
man. 

"And — thou  hast  the  Babe — 
the  Saviour — with  thee?" 

The  mother,  seated  upon  the 
ass,  arms  cradling  the  Child,  an- 
swered Joseph's  look  of  amaze- 
ment. 

"It  is  the  little  lad  who  came 
with  the  shepherds  to  the  stable," 

she  said  softly.     She  leaned  to- 

28 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

wards  him.  "Tell  us,"  she  com- 
manded with  kindly  voice,  "thou 
art  blind?" 

"I  am  blind." 

"Yet  thou  didst  know  us  when 
we  came  by?" 

He  did  not  hesitate.  "I  have 
sharp  ears,"  he  said,  "and  the 
light  came." 

"The  light?" 

"The  glory.  I  saw  it  on  the 
hills;  I  saw  it  again  in  the  stable; 
and  once  more  when  ye  went 
north  I  saw  it." 

She  nodded.  "I,  too,  have 
seen  it,"  she  said,  "and  now?" 

"It  is  here,"  he  answered  eag- 
erly, "a  great  brightness  before 
my  eyes.  So  I  know:  but" — and 
his  voice  fell — "I  cannot  see  the 

Babe." 

29 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

"Stretch  forth  thy  hand,"  she 
said. 

He  put  it  forth  quickly.  She 
took  it  and  guided  it  until  it 
rested  on  the  Babe's  cheek.  The 
sensitive  finger-tips  touched 
gently,  gently,  the  rounded 
cheeks,  the  soft  little  chin,  and  as 
gently  withdrew.  The  blind  boy 
stood  speechless,  face  aglow. 
They  watched  him  for  a  mo- 
ment; then  Joseph  took  the  lead- 
ing rope  in  his  hand. 

"The  Lord  be  with  thee,"  he 
said:  and  the  mother  echoed  the 
words  in  her  soft  voice. 

"And  with  you  both,"  said  Na- 
than. 

That  night  he  stole  across  to 
tell    Elon.      "And    this    is    the 

strange  thing,"  he  said :  "when  I 

30 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

touched  the  Babe,  the  light 
failed;  and  when  I  took  my  hand 
away  it  came  again." 

The  shepherd  pondered  for  a 
time. 

"I  know,"  he  ventured,  at 
length.  "Thou  seest  the  light 
with  thy  soul's  eyes;  but  thy 
hands  are  the  eyes  of  thy  body; 
and  when  thou  didst  touch  the 
Christ  it  was  as  if  thou  sawest 
with  thy  body's  eyes.  Thou  know- 
est  that  together  the  flesh  and  the 
spirit  see  not." 

"What  will  happen,  Elon, 
when  He  shall  open  mine  eyes?" 

"Thou  wilt  see  the  light  no 
more,  but  only  the  Christ  Him- 
self." 

"That  will  be  better,"  said  the 
lad  cheerfully. 

31 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

And  that  night  he  prayed  again 
for  patience  to  wait  till  the  Christ 
should  be  a  man. 

It  seemed  as  if  one  had  but  to 
wait  by  the  roadside  and  things 
were  sure  to  happen.  Only  a  day 
had  passed  when  his  ears  caught 
the  jingle  and  creak  of  the  har- 
ness of  camels.  With  the  mur- 
mur of  strange  voices  high  in  air, 
the  strident  shouts  of  the  drivers, 
the  grunting  of  the  soft-footed 
beasts,  they  passed  rapidly  on  to- 
wards Bethlehem,  the  tinkle  of 
the  bell  at  the  throat  of  the  last 
camel  growing  fainter  and  fainter 
and  dying  away  at  last.  Nathan's 
father,  Shama,  told  at  supper  who 
the  riders  were:  Wise  Men  from 

the  East,  he  had  heard  at  the 

32 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

watering-trough  by  the  well. 
They  were  looking — and  he 
smiled  derisively — looking  for  a 
child  born  King  of  the  Jews. 
They  wanted  to  worship  Him. 

Shama  laughed  hoarsely. 
"Elon  hath  a  fool's  tale,"  he 
croaked;  "there  was  a  babe  born 
in  the  stable  at  the  inn  during  the 
census-taking:  and  he  saith  it  is 
the  Christ — saith  the  angels  told 
him  so!  I  say,  a  poor  Christ,  born 
in  a  stable!" 

Nathan  sat  silent,  afraid  yet 
eager  to  tell  all  he  knew.  The 
mother,  with  a  fretful  child  upon 
her  knee,  did  not  appear  to  be  in- 
terested. 

That  night  it  stormed,  and  Na- 
than, with  a  score  of  questions  on 
his   lips    for   Elon's    ears,    must 

33 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

needs  save  them  through  the  long 
day  that  followed.  Then,  the 
frugal  evening  meal  over,  he 
waited  his  chance,  slipped  quietly 
out  of  the  house,  and  hastened 
across  the  slope  to  the  sheepfold. 

The  flocks  were  in;  the  man  at 
the  gate  opened  to  him.  Over  the 
soft  sounds  of  the  fold  he  heard 
the  shepherds'  voices  in  animated 
talk.  Carefully  he  threaded  his 
way  among  the  resting  sheep  to- 
wards the  far  corner,  till  he  felt 
Eton's  hand  catch  his  staff.  He 
let  himself  be  guided  to  a  seat  by 
his  big  friend's  side. 

"I  knew  thou  wouldst  come," 
was  his  greeting.  "So  thou  hast 
heard  of  the  Wise  Men?" 

"Yea,  truly,"  said  the  lad 
eagerly.    "I  heard  them  pass ;  and 

34 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

father  told  me  they  sought  the 
Babe.  They  must  have  found 
Him,  Elon;  but  all  day  I  have 
watched  for  their  return,  and  they 
have  not  come." 

"They  did  find  Him  truly,"  re- 
turned the  shepherd.  "I  have 
been  to  the  town  this  day,  and  I 
have  heard  from  the  lips  of  the 
porter  at  the  inn  all  that  hap- 
pened. They  found  the  Babe, 
and  worshiped  Him,  and  brought 
forth  gifts  fit  for  a  King;  the  por- 
ter saw  it.  He  saith  the  Babe's 
mother  put  a  little  gold  casket  in 
His  hands,  and  He  let  it  fall " 

"And  then?" 

"Why,  lad,  here  is  the  strangest 
of  all.  In  the  night  they  left  the 
inn,  and  are  gone  no  man  knows 
whither." 

35 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

"Who  are  gone?" 

"The  Wise  Men,  and  the  Babe 
and  Mary  and  Joseph,"  Elon  an- 
swered. "The  porter  saith  the 
Wise  Men  roused  him  at  mid- 
night. He  opened  for  them,  and 
they  took  the  road  to  the  south. 
Then,  before  dawn,  came  Joseph 
with  the  Babe  and  His  mother, 
and  they  too  turned  toward  the 
south." 

The  lad  was  silent,  as  if  unable 
to  grasp  what  had  been  said. 
Overhead  the  moon  shone  out  be- 
tween scudding  clouds.  The  air 
blew  soft  from  the  south,  whither 
the  Babe  had  gone. 

A  few  days  later  a  terrible 
thing  befell.    It  was  noonday,  and 

Nathan  sat  on  the  threshold  in  the 

36 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

wintry  sunlight,  when  he  heard 
the  tread  of  heavy  feet  and  the 
clash  of  arms.  He  knew  who 
came,  men  of  the  Roman  garri- 
son lodged  in  Herod's  castle  on 
the  hill  beyond  the  town.  He  had 
always  taken  a  fearful  joy  in 
hearing  them  pass,  feet  tramping 
so  firmly,  armor  clashing  so  war- 
like. There  were  not  many  this 
time,  only  a  quaternion,  his  ears 
told  him.  They  came  up  the  hill 
towards  the  house  and  stopped  be- 
fore the  door.  When  they  went 
clanging  down  the  hill  again,  the 
mother,  quiet  with  an  awful  grief, 
sat  beside  a  tiny  bleeding  body; 
while  Shama  and  the  little  blind 
Nathan  stood  in  the  road  pale  and 
sweating  with  helpless  rage,  the 
father's   hoarse   curses    and   the 

37 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

lad's  shrill  ones  flying  together  on 
the  winter  wind  to  join  the  wails 
and  execrations  of  bereaved 
homes  in  the  town  below. 

They  left  the  little  house  on  the 
hill  after  that.  The  mother  could 
not  bear  to  stay.  The  sheep  were 
sold,  the  scanty  household  goods 
packed  on  an  ox-cart,  and  the 
three  went  over  the  hills  to  the 
Holy  City  and  there  took  up  their 
abode. 

The  years  passed.  Shama,  the 
surly,  had  turned  porter  in  the 
wool  market,  where  he  picked  up 
a  precarious  living.  Nathan  had 
grown  into  tall  and  stalwart  man- 
hood, but  still  fit,  as  his  father 
often    bitterly    complained,    for 

naught  but  begging  at  the  Temple 

38 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

Gate.  Day  after  day,  year  after 
year,  he  sat  there,  seeking  a  sunny 
spot  when  the  sun  shone,  a  shel- 
tered corner  when  the  wind  was 
searching,  calling  ever  upon  the 
passer-by  for  alms. 

And  still,  despite  the  years  that 
had  passed,  the  memory  of  the 
strange  happenings  of  that  winter 
in  Bethlehem  did  not  fade  from 
his  mind.  Often  as  he  sat  in  his 
nook  by  the  Temple  Gate  he 
whiled  away  the  idle  hours  with 
his  musings  on  the  Saviour. 
When  he  had  reached  his  tall, 
slim  young  manhood  he  thought 
to  himself,  "The  Christ  is  ten 
years  old!  He  will  be  as  tall 
as  my  elbow  by  now."  And  a 
year  or  two  later,  with  a  sudden 
thrill,  he  thought,  "The  Christ  is 

39 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

old  enough  to  come  to  the 
Feast !" 

It  was  during  that  very  Pass- 
over week  that  he  saw  the  heaven- 
ly light,  once  and  again,  while  the 
crowd  thronged  the  Temple  steps. 
But  the  press  was  so  great  that, 
search  as  he  would  with  tapping 
staff,  he  could  not  find  the  boy 
Christ.  Yet  it  made  his  heart  beat 
light  again,  and  the  blind  beg- 
gar's prayer,  nightly  offered 
through  all  those  years,  was  of- 
fered with  increasing  hope. 

After  that  the  years,   though 

still  dragging  slowly  enough,  had 

their  weary  length  shortened  by 

an  occasional  shining  of  the  glory 

before  Nathan's  blind  eyes.     It 

came  now  and  then  during  one 

of  the  great  Feasts,  when  all  Is- 
40 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

rael  flocked  to  the  Holy  City.  His 
eyes  would  be  flooded  with  a  mo- 
mentary radiance;  a  hammering 
pulse  would  beat  in  his  throat; 
but  always  the  end  would  be  the 
same — darkness  and  a  vain 
searching  for  the  Christ  who  had 
passed  in  the  crowd. 

"Wait,"  he  would  whisper  to 
himself,  remembering  old  Elon's 
counsel;  "wait!  The  Christ  is  as 
tall  as  I  am  now.  Soon  His  day 
— and  mine — will  come!" 

In  the  Temple  and  on  the 
streets  his  quick  ears  began  to 
catch  a  fresh  note  in  the  gossip  of 
the  day.  Shama  brought  it  now 
and  again  from  the  lips  of  porters 
and  merchants  in  the  wool  mar- 
ket.   It  was  about  a  new  prophet, 

John  by  name,  who  had  stalked 
41 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

out  of  the  Judaen  hills  with  the 
burning  cry,  "Repent  ye;  for  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand!" 
And  though  priest  and  Pharisee 
scoffed,  the  blind  beggar  knew 
what  it  meant. 

He  was  not  at  all  surprised 
when  he  heard  the  newest  and 
strangest  reports.  All  Jerusalem 
was  agog  over  them.  They  told 
of  another  prophet,  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  who  was  going  about 
working  mighty  wonders,  claim- 
ing to  be  the  Christ.  And  though 
he  thought  his  heart  would  burst 
as  he  listened,  Nathan  answered 
the  gossip-monger  quietly  enough, 
"The  Lord  is  not  slack.  His  time 
is  near  at  hand." 

On  a  certain  day  he  sat  in  the 

doorway  of  the  little  home  down 
42 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

in  the  heart  of  the  city.  It  was 
the  Sabbath;  and  he  might  not 
beg.  Above  him,  could  he  have 
seen  it,  the  Temple  hill  rose  in 
white  majesty,  crowned  by  the 
Temple  itself  with  glittering  pin- 
nacles piercing  the  blue. 

He  heard  the  murmur  of  voices 
and  the  clack  of  sandals  coming 
up  the  street.  He  wondered  idly 
who  it  might  be.  Then — the 
light!  It  shone  in  upon  his  dark- 
ness, and  he  sat  as  if  fixed  to  the 
doorstep,  unable  to  rise  for  the 
trembling  in  his  limbs!  He 
awoke  suddenly  to  the  fact  that 
the  sound  of  steps  had  ceased  and 
a  voice  was  speaking.  He  caught 
the  words,  "I  am  the  Light  of  the 
World."  A  hand  was  laid  upon 
his    eyes,    anointing    them   with 

43 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

something  moist  and  cool;  and  a 
voice  said :  "Go,  wash  in  the  pool 
ofSiloam!" 

The  speaker  was  gone.  The 
light  had  faded.  Nathan  the  beg- 
gar, alone  upon  the  steps,  felt  for 
his  staff,  got  to  his  feet,  and  hast- 
ened, tapping,  tapping  on  the  cob- 
bles, down  the  street.  Deaf  to  the 
angry  expostulations  of  those  he 
jostled,  unmoved  by  the  curses  of 
a  portly  Pharisee,  on  he  went,  out 
at  the  city  gate,  down  the  hillside, 
until,  stumbling  along  the  broad 
stone  steps  that  led  to  the  placid 
pool,  he  threw  himself  prone  by 
its  brink  and  plunged  his  face  into 
its  cool  waters. 


He  had  known  what  men  meant 
by  such  words  as  light  and  dark- 

44 


He  threw  himself  prone  by  its  brink  and 
plunged  his  face  into  its  cool  waters 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

ness  since  the  night  when  the 
heavenly  glory  had  first  shone  in 
upon  him;  but  never  had  he 
known  the  meaning  of  the  blue  of 
the  sky,  the  green  of  Olivet,  the 
warm  whiteness  of  the  Temple 
walls  and  the  golden  radiance  of 
their  sun-kissed  pinnacles,  until 
now,  when  he  slowly  climbed  the 
stairs  and  looked  about  him  on  a 
new  world.  He  joyously  drank  it 
in  through  his  eyes. 

"And  now,"  said  he  to  himself, 
"to  find  the  Christ,  that  I  may  see 
Him  with  these  eyes !" 

A  dark  night,  without  a  moon, 
had  fallen  on  the  hills  above 
Bethlehem.  The  sheep  lay  hud- 
dled together.  Except  for  their 
soft  breathing,  and  the  whistle  of 

45 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

the  wind  through  the  chinks  in 
the  wall,  no  sound  broke  the  still- 
ness. Sheltered  in  a  corner  of  the 
fold,  Elon,  wrapped  in  his  sheep- 
skin coat,  hugged  the  embers  of 
the  slowly  dying  fire  and  dozed 
away  the  hours. 

On  a  sudden  one  of  the  dogs  be- 
side him  lifted  his  head  with  a 
low  growl.  The  old  shepherd 
straightened  himself  and  listened. 
There  was  a  sound  of  footsteps 
drawing  near  the  fold.  Whoever 
it  was,  he  had  left  the  highway 
and  was  approaching  with  steady 
stride  as  one  who  knew  the  way 
even  in  the  dark.  Elon  heard  him 
fumbling  at  the  gate.  At  a  word 
the  dogs  crouched  silent,  waiting. 
The  man  entered  and  came  to- 
ward the  fire,  a  dark  form  dimly 
46 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

seen,  threading  his  way  among 
the  sheep. 

"Shalom,"  he  said,  when  at 
length  he  stood  before  Elon. 

"To  thee  also  peace,"  returned 
the  old  shepherd. 

The  man  seated  himself  by  the 
fire.  He  was  a  stranger,  though 
his  voice  seemed  somehow  famil- 
iar. The  dogs  smelled  of  his 
clothes,  appeared  satisfied,  and 
lay  down  again,  with  their  heads 
on  their  forepaws,  watching  him. 
The  fire  gave  still  enough  light  to 
show  his  face,  strong  and  kindly, 
and  to  reveal  a  pair  of  eyes  look- 
ing into  Eton's  like  those  of  a  fa- 
miliar friend.  Who  could  this  be? 

At  length  the  stranger  broke 
the  silence:  "Thou  art  the  keeper 
of  the  sacred  flock?" 

47 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

"One  of  the  keepers." 

"Hast  been  here  long?" 

There  was  a  ring  of  honest 
pride  in  Elon's  voice  as  he  an- 
swered, "Twoscore  and  ten  years 
have  I  herded  on  these  hills." 

"And  hast  never  lost  a  sheep?" 
the  other's  voice  asked  in  gentle 
raillery. 

"Never,"  said  old  Elon  quietly. 

The  stranger's  tone  altered.  "I 
passed  an  old  house  on  the  road 
yonder;  'tis  a  lonely  place  for  men 
to  dwell." 

"No  man  dwelleth  there,"  said 
Elon.  "It  hath  stood  empty  now 
these  thirty  years." 

"And  thou  didst  know  them 
that  dwelt  there?" 

Elon  eyed  him  in  silence  for  a 

moment.     The  question  did  not 

48 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

seem  altogether  an  idle  one.  It 
came  into  his  mind  that  the  famil- 
iar thing  about  the  stranger  was 
his  voice. 

"Yea,"  said  he  at  length;  "I 
knew  them." 

"Beggars,  from  the  look  of  the 
place,"  said  the  stranger  careless- 

ly- 

The  shepherd  answered  slowly, 
"One  was  a  beggar." 

The  other  rose  to  his  feet. 
"Friend,"  he  said,  "the  night  is 
far  spent,  and  I  have  a  vow  to  pay 
at  sunrise.  If  thou  wilt,  I  will 
rest  by  thy  fire." 

"The  fold  is  thine,"  said  Elon; 
and  the  two  wrapped  themselves 
in  their  cloaks  and  lay  down  to 
rest.  It  was  long,  however,  be- 
fore the  old  shepherd  slept.    Be- 

49 


y 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

fore  his  eyes  was  the  face  of  the 
stranger,  and  in  his  ears  rang  the 
familiar  voice;  but  he  fell  asleep 
with  the  puzzle  still  unanswered. 

He  woke  at  the  first  break  of 
day  to  find  the  stranger's  place  by 
the  dead  fire  empty.  He  rose  and 
looked  about  him.  The  man  was 
on  the  tower,  eyes  fixed  on  the 
eastern  horizon.  Elon  climbed 
the  steps  and  stood  beside  him. 

"Peace,  on  this  new  day,"  he 
said. 

The  other  turned  with  the 
words,  "And  to  thee,"  and  again 
he  faced  the  sunrise. 

The  gray  of  the  east  had 
changed  to  rose,  and  the  western 
heavens  gave  answer  in  paler 
tints.    The  valleys  lay  shadowed 

in  the  growing  light,  the  should- 

50 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

ers  of  the  hills  by  Bethlehem  were 
silvered,  the  eastern  mountains 
rose  dark  against  the  glowing  sky. 
Then  suddenly  the  ragged  edge 
of  the  mountains,  cutting  the  sky, 
was  rimmed  with  gold,  and  the 
sun  rose,  bathing  the  world 
in  glory.  The  white  walls  of 
Bethlehem  gleamed  golden;  the 
pale  olives,  too,  were  warmed  into 
gold;  the  green  gardens  and  vine- 
yards shone  golden;  the  very 
rocks  and  greensward  at  the  foot 
of  the  tower  seemed  glorified. 

The  stranger  pointed  down  to- 
wards the  foot  of  the  hills,  where 
through  deep  rifts  the  silvered 
waters  shone. 

"The  Sea  of  Salt?"  he  asked. 

"Yea,"  said  Elon,  more  deeply 

puzzled  than  ever.     Who  could 

51 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

this  be,  that  he  knew  the  way  to 
the  fold  in  the  darkness,  yet  knew 
not  the  Dead  Sea? 

The  man's  eyes  scoured  the 
world;  his  face  glowed  with  feel- 
ing. 

"O  my  friend/'  he  said  at  last; 
"tell  me  of  what  we  see.  That  is 
Bethlehem  at  our  feet?  And  the 
great  tower  and  castle  on  the  hill 
beyond,  what  are  they?" 

"Herod's  new  castle,"  said 
Elon;  and  as  he  had  done  once 
long  before,  he  told  the  story  of 
the  hills  of  Bethlehem  and  named 
the  distant  mountains  beyond  the 
valley.  The  stranger  said  not 
a  word,  but  drank  it  in  eagerly, 
his  eyes,  brighter  than  any  Elon 
had  ever  known,  resting  on  this 

spot  and  that,  but  dwelling  long- 

52 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

est  on  the  white-walled  town. 
Suddenly  he  threw  back  his  head 
and,  drawing  a  deep  breath, 
turned  to  Elon  a  shining  face. 

"The  sun  hath  risen,"  said  the 
shepherd,  remembering;  "and 
thou  hast  a  vow  to  pay." 

The  man  laughed  softly;  but 
quickly,  with  sobered  face,  said, 
"My  vow  is  paid,  friend  shep- 
herd. It  was  that  I  should  look 
upon  this  scene  from  this  tower. 
All  these  years,  these  long,  dark 
years,  have  I  waited — " 

Elon's  gaunt  frame  began  to 
tremble.  "Who  art  thou?"  he 
asked. 

The  stranger  smiled  at  him. 
"That  was  not  the  whole  of  my 
vow,"  he  said.  "It  was,  too,  that 
I  should  see  a  certain  old  shep- 

53 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

herd  and  have  him  tell  me  about 
Bethlehem  and  the  hills  and  the 
Salt  Sea—" 

Elon  gripped  him  by  both 
shoulders.  "Who  art  thou?"  he 
cried  hoarsely. 

The  stranger  looked  into  his 
face  steadfastly  for  a  moment,  and 
said  simply,  "O  Elon,  I  am  he 
that  was  blind,  and,  behold,  I 
see!" 

"Art  thou  Nathan?"  cried  the 
shepherd.  "Joy  of  my  life,  to  see 
thee  once  again  and  see  thee  so!" 
And  with  tears  upon  his  furrowed 
cheeks,  murmuring  over  and  over, 
"Nathan!  Nathan!"  old  Elon 
threw  his  arms  about  him  and 
kissed  him. 

So  stood  the  two  men  on  the 
hillside  among  the  grazing  sheep. 

54 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

"I  told  thee,  long  ago,"  said 
Elon,  "that  in  His  own  time  the 
Christ  would  open  thine  eyes. 
And  He  hath  done  it.  Now 
what?" 

Nathan's  face  was  grave,  but 
his  look  was  full  of  exaltation. 

"Now,"  he  made  answer,  "now 
have  I  given  for  His  use  these 
eyes  of  mine,  for  ever." 

"Amen,"  said  Elon;  "and  I, 
too,  with  mine  old  eyes,  here 
herding  the  sheep." 

With  sudden  tears  of  joy  he 
laid  his  hand  on  Nathan's  shoul- 
der. "Dost  remember  how  we 
sang,  that  night,  returning  from 
the  inn?    So  let  us  sing  again." 

And  there  on  the  hillside, 
among  the  sheep,  while  the  sun 
shone  down  upon  the  white  walls 

55 


WHEN  THE  BLIND  SAW 

of   Bethlehem,   their   song   rose 
upon  the  air: 

"O  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah,  for 

he  is  good; 
For  his  loving  kindness  endureth 

forever" 


56 


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PS3503.U8W56 
When  the  blind  saw, 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1   1012  00003  2005 


